The asymmetric bunk is two metres long on the starboard side. older systems, which could be unreliable. The mainsail has vertical full- depth battens, running from leech to boom, and rolls and unrolls easily. Dan estimates the straight-line roach costs eight to ten per cent of sail area over the now-traditional battened main with lazyjacks and boom bag. This is a cruising boat, so of course we took her in a race, Division 2 of the Royal Prince Alfred Wednesday event on a cold afternoon in July. We did not have a great start, then had good reaching speed to pick up the leaders, but we were the most leeward boat and those to windward caught the SW gusts before we did and got away. It was great to watch two 11- Metre One Designs match-race each other throughout, wriggling all over Pittwater in the search for pressure. Without a spinnaker pole, we struggled on the light-air square runs. There was no pole because this boat was fitted with an optional Selden prodder, which bolts to the foredeck and services the MPS (multi-purpose spinnaker) that cruising sailors prefer to a conventional kite as it’s so easy to control. We pointed well however, and went much better when the breeze kicked in. This was a relaxed crew; halfway up the long first beat someone realised the mainsheet traveller was well to leeward. The traveller control lines can be led to the coachroof winches. The genoa cars can be adjusted by lines led back to the cockpit, important for performance, and for easy adjustment when the sail is part-furled. The only handling problem was that the framework for the bimini got in the way for high-speed action with the mainsheet winch. Practice sorted that out. The cockpit is long and very wide. Beneath the cockpit seats each side is a large locker, which is good to see. I would add one of those fabric winch handle stowage bags. On the Bavaria 40 the life-raft stows on deck. The bigger Bavarias, from the 43 up, have transom lockers. This boat has all the space the average user could possibly need. It is roomy and comfortable with enough storage room to be a proper cruiser, not just a pretend cruiser whose main role is really that of weekend social platform. You could go places on this boat. Dan reports that she slams very little when offshore as the bow is quite veed. Like all Bavarias, she is great value for money. Bavaria’s sailaway price is $319,500, which includes anchor and chain, sail cover and lazyjacks, the folding prop and electric anchor winch. This is a supremely logical boat. By logical I mean it all makes sense, which ultimately leads to comfort both below and in the cockpit. And a boat that makes sense is easy to live with. For further information phone Bavaria Yachting Australia +61(0)2 9998 9600 or visit www.bavariayachts.com.au 12.35m 11.99m 3.99m 1.90m 8,500kg 2,600kg (Volvo Penta D2-40) 30 KW/40hp 360l 210l 3 88.1 sq m $319,500 Technical specifications O Length OverALL Length Of huLL BeAm DrAught (stAnDArD) DisPLACement BALLAst engine WAter CAPACitY fueL CAPACitY CABins mAinsAiL AnD genOA PriCe offshore | 63 Photo: Courtesy Bavaria Yachts Australia Photo: Barry tranter Photo: Barry tranter